Companion Animals

Companion Animal Inherited Deafness Welfare

Inherited deafness in dalmatians, white cats, and merle dogs affects welfare management and requires specific accommodations.

Key Facts

Approximately 30% of dalmatians have unilateral deafness and 8% bilateral
White cats with blue eyes have high rates of congenital deafness
Deaf pets require visual cue training and different household management
Breeders can reduce deafness prevalence through BAER hearing testing before breeding

Welfare Considerations

Deaf pets can have excellent welfare with appropriate management, but require dedicated training using visual and vibrational cues. The risk of startle response aggression in deaf dogs requires careful handling. Breeding programs that test and select against deafness reduce the prevalence of this manageable but significant welfare variant.

What You Can Do

Have pets in predisposed breeds BAER tested for hearing status
Adapt training and communication to use visual signals for deaf pets
Keep deaf pets safe from traffic and startle hazards
Support breeding practices that select against inherited deafness